What a game, and what a finish! Werder looked focused and dangerous for the whole game, but it was Dortmund who got the goals. It was Brandt just before the break who brought BVB ahead (45+1’), and Guerreiro doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 77th minute. What happened next is difficult to put into words. Werder turned the game around through Buchanan (89’), Schmidt (90+1’) and Burke (90+5’). This game is going to be on people’s lips for a long time.
Line-up and formation: Werder Head Coach Ole Werner lined up with a flexible 3-5-2 against Dortmund. After their long term absences, Dineki Salifou and Manuel Mbom returned to the side. Marvin Ducksch and Niklas Füllkrug started up front. In midfield were Leonardo Bittencourt, Christian Groß and new arrival Jens Stage. In defence, the three centre halves were flanked by Anthony Jung and Michel Wieser.
Starting XI: Pavlenka; Weiser, Pieper, Veljkovic, Friedl, Jung; Groß, Bittencourt, Stage; Füllkrug, Ducksch
On the bench: Zetterer; Stark, Burke, Schmid, Schmidt, Rapp, Buchanan, Agu, Gruev
The highlights of the first half:
2nd minute: Dortmund move down the left hand side. Dahoud gets it some 20 metres from goal, shoots, but it whizzes past the post.
13th minute: Pieper makes a strong challenge. BVB come dangerously into the box from the left. But before it becomes a serious threat, Pieper throws himself hard but fairly into the tackle and stops Reus.
21st minute: Friedl takes a free-kick from the left hand side, which is aimed to the far post. Stage runs in and gets his head on it, but blazes it over the bar. A good offensive idea from our boys!
34th minute: Werder at it again. Bittencourt sprays the ball nicely down the right. Ducksch gets on it and is able to shoot in the box, but the ball is within Kobel’s reach, and he is able to stop the visitors from going 1-0 up. A great performance from the boys so far!
42nd minute: Werder free-kick: Ducksch goes for the far corner 17 metres from goal, but Kobel is able to tip the shot round the post. Werder so close to going in front!
45+2minutes: Julian Brandt makes it 1-0 to Borussia Dortmund. That’s a tough one to take. A fantastic half goes unrewarded, and then, Brandt fires low and hard from outside the area and scores at the near post. That hurts.
45+3 minutes: Half-time!
The highlights of the second half:
78th minute: 2-0 to Dortmund. Werder have put on a very good show here, yet it’s Dortmund who celebrate. Guerreiro strikes from outside the area, and Pavlenka is left unsighted as the ball flies past a few defenders, so he can’t quite get to in time.
89th minute: That’s 2-1. There’s the goal! And what a finish it was. Dortmund can’t clear it away from their area, Buchanan runs in and strikes it into the top right corner! Fantastic! Come on lads, there’s still time!
90+3minutes: 2-2, Werder equalise! The Bremen supporters are going crazy, and so are we! A header from Niklas Schmidt! 2-2!! YESSSS!! The cross came in from Pieper. Schmidt nods it home perfectly into the bottom right!!
90+5 minutes: 3-2 to Werder!!! Incredible. Werder have turned this game on its head in the dying minutes! The ball is played through in behind, and Burke finishes powerfully into the near corner!
90+8 minutes: Time to celebrate! Werder win 3-1 in Dortmund!
Summary: This ending was impossible to comprehend. Werder played excellently throughout, and the performance seemed to have gone unrewarded. But the biggest reward came right at the death. A classic match for our green-whites with an unbelievable finish!
